Grey Squirrels

Summary: Learn all about grey squirrels, and why they are wiser than their larger, inherently clumsier and goofier cousin, the fox squirrel.

Grey squirrels are not actually wiser than the fox squirrel, which is not actually any less nimble than the grey squirrel. In fact, grey squirrels are very similar to fox squirrels, the main difference between the two being color, although there are some other defining characteristics. Grey squirrels are slightly smaller than the fox squirrel, coming in at around a foot to a foot and a half, with around the same length for the tail, which curls around in a backwards "S". They weigh somewhere in the range of one pound. As far as color goes, they are generally grey specked with white, with some light brown shaded in. Their underbelly is light grey to white. The ears of the grey squirrels are more pointy than those of the fox squirrel, and often times, will have a tuft of white ear hair. The grey squirrel's tail is usually dark with white edgings. A white circle sometimes lines its eye.

Grey squirrels tend to stay in the trees while fox squirrels scurry around on the ground. If either squirrel will go to the ground if it is looking for food. The grey squirrel will build its drey in just about any nut-bearing tree, same as the fox squirrel. Tree varieties can include oak, pine, walnut, hickory, beech, elm, chestnut, hazelnut, pecan, and just about any other tree you can think of, especially if it bears fruit or nuts.

Fox squirrels will attempt to attract a mate by chattering loudly or slapping its paws against the bark of a tree. They produce litters similar to the fox squirrel, twice a year, typically three or four young, but as many as eight and as few as one, with everything depending on conditions of survival, such as weather, predators, food supply, or shelter. One happy squirrel family will get bigger in winter, and have some new additions again in the summer. They will live for around 12 years, happily ever after, but hopefully not ever after anywhere near your home.

Squirrels can slip through the smallest of cracks and right into our homes. They can nest in the attics and walls, tearing up the inside of homes and chewing on wires and rafters. For control, I recommend that you grab a Havahart Small Raccoon Trap to catch squirrels. Remember to check your state laws about releasing trapped animals. Lots of states say œYou caught it. Now you dispose of it and they are not talking about taking it down the road to release in your neighbor's forest. Once you get them out, keep them out with an organic squirrel repellent such as Shake Away Granules, which uses the scent of a fox to scare the squirrels away. Both methods can be found at most hardware stores. In most cases, you will need to repair the spot where the squirrels gained entry into your house, but if you do not catch and euthanize the animal, they will do everything they can to get back in. After all, it is their claimed nesting area and they only know they need to get back in. Playing œnice with a squirrel on a mission will end up costing you lots of money to repair the damages they will cause.